Acetylene-gas generator.



No. 660369. Patented out. 2s, |900.

G. G. SMITH.

ACETYLENE GAS GENERATOR;

(Application med nee. s, 1599.) (No Model.) 1 4 Sheets-Sheet I.

l l I No. 6mes.

- Patented 0st. '23, |900. G. G. SMITH. ADETYLENE GAS GENERATOR.

(Application led Dec. B, 1899.) (N o Model.) 4 She g--Sheet 2.

rn: Nonms PETERS co.. Waremme., wAsumL-.wm n. c.

Patented Oct. 23, |900;

s. c. SMITH.

AGETYLENE GAS GENERATDB.

' (Application med nec. s, 189s.)

(No Model.)

l l l l THE NRIS PEERS CO.. PHOTO-LITRO., WASHINGTON, U4 C,

No. 660,|69. APamnced 0st. 23, |900. G. G. SMITH. M :laTYLl-:maA GASGENEnATon..

(Appumn med me. s, 1899.)

4 Sheets-Sheet 4.

(un model.)

Zijl ven TH: ,MORRIS PETERS no., Moro-uma.. wAsmNcn'rm. DA G.

UNiTED STATns PATngiT OFFICE.

GEORGE GREGORY SMITH, OFl FLORENCE, ITALY.

ACETYLEN E-eAs G EN ERATo R.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 660,169, dated October23, 1900.

Application iiled December 8, 1399. Serial No. 739.628. (No model.) y

To cil/ZZ whom t may concern,.-

Be it known that .1, GEORGE GREGORY SMITH, attorney atlaw, a citizen ofthe United States, residing at San Domenico, Florence, in the Kingdom ofItaly,l1ave invented certain new and useful Improvements in Acetylene-Gas Generators, of which' vthe following is a full, clear, and exactdescription.

The present invention relates to gas-generators; and its object is toprovide an apparatus which will work continuously and with absolutesafety, producing consecutive even quantities of dry gas withoutintermediate interruption and without any appreciable pressureVariation, the various parts being arranged and coperating in suchmanner as to enable receptacles to be recharged with the gas-producingagents at any time while the apparatus is at work. Provision is alsomade for stopping the generation of gas in the event of any part of themechanism for bringing the receptacles containing the gas-producingagents into action defective.

In order to render the present specitication easilyintelligible,reference isl had to the accompanying drawings, in which similarletconsecutively becoming ters and numerals of reference denote 'similarparts throughout the several views.

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the apparatus; Fig. 2, a sectional sideelevation; Fig. 3, a similar side elevation showing the tin or cancontaining the gas-producing agent punctured and all parts in thecorresponding position; Eig. 1l, a detail end elevation showing meansfor arresting the controlling-shaft in its proper position. Eig. 5 is aplan ofthe whole apparatus.

Generally, A represents the gas-holder; B, the device for consecutivelycontrolling the action of the receptacle O; D, the mechanism forcontrolling a part of the apparatus; E, the water-tanks, one of which isprovided for each receptacle O; E, the mechanism for controlling` thecocks for the water-feed, and G the tin or box containing thegas-producing agent.

According to the system on Which the present construction is based eachreceptacle C is provided with a certain quantity of material sutlicientwhen developed to lill the bell of the gas-holder. When the vgas in thebell has been almost exhausted, the downward movement of the said belloperates a weighted shaft, causing water to be admitted to the 'nextreceptacle, by means of which suflicient gas is generated to exactlyrefill the bell, which rises again. Thus each complete descent of thebell brings another receptacle into operation, while thepreviously-exhausted receptacle may berecharged without in any wayinterfering with the Working of the apparatus, and if the receptaclesare charged consecutively as they are exhausted the apparatus willautomatically start the first receptacle into action after the last ofthe series has been exhausted. When carbid is employed as thegas-producing agent, the carbid receptacle or holder C is constructed inthel 'following' manner: The cylinderl is provided withthe air-tightclosed cover 2 at the top and a removable bottom plate 3, which issecured by means of the bow 4, which grips over Vthe lowercylinder-flange and has the clamping-screw 5, which holds the bottomplate securely in position, a suitable packingring being interposedbetween the plate 3 and the lower iiange of the cylinder.` At about thecenter of the bottom plate an upwardlyprojecting punch 6, havingvertical grooves '13, is provided and surrounded by a coiled spring 48,on which the cylindrical carbidholder. G rests, the said holder or tinbeing '..advantageously centered by means of inwardly-projecting lianges7. :adjusted to support the charged carbid-tin with its bottom justabove the top of the 4punch 6. .vided with a stuffing-box and gland 10,in vwhich a rod 9, having adownwardly-pointed punch for the top of thecarbid-tin, is provided. The rod 9 carries a flange or collar 16 -fastthereon within the holder, the said col- The springS is The cover 2 ofthe holder is prolar acting as a stop for the upward movement of the rodand also to supporta iialnge 'll by means of its downwardly-extendingsleevelike part 17 and lower collar 9. VThis rod is normally held withits collar 16 against the inner surface of the cover 2 by means of aspring 15, interposed advantageously between a collar on the spindle andthe top of the gland 10 of the cover. The flange 11 is slightly largerthan the exterior diameter of the carbid-tin, so that if a sharp blow isdealt IOO to the top of the rod 9 by means hereinafter set forth thepunch on the latter will first puncture the cover of the carbid-tin G,and as the rod still descends the flange l1 will force the whole holderdownwardly against the action of the coiled spring 8 onto the punch 6,which also punctures the bottom of the said tin. As soon as the impacton the rod 9 ceases and the latter is released the spring 8 raises thetin from the punch 6, while the spring 15 returns the rod 9, and with itthe flange l1, to its normal position, raising the punch end of the rodout of the puncture in the top of the tin, so that water is free toenter the said tin and to generate gas in the known manner. y

The water-feed is operated by the downward movement ofthe rod 9 in amanner which will now be described with reference to Figs. 2 and 3. vAspreviously stated, each carbid-holder O is provided with a specialwater-tank E, advantageously mounted on a i higher level than'the holderand in communication therewith by means of apipe 18, having a stop-cock19 and leading through the cover` 2. cient water to fill the holderaround the carbid-tin to a level slightly above the top of the tin. Therod 9 is provided with a laterallyextending pin or notch 20, which whenthe rod descends under the influence of the blow turns a lever 22,pivotally mounted on the cover at 21, and tilts over the cock-lever 23,the weight 24 of which falls on the other side and completely opens thewater-cock, allowing the contents of the tank E to Iiow into the holderC. A back-pressure valve may be provided between the cock and thereceptacle 1 to prevent the flow of gas back to the watertank, or, asindicated by dotted lines in Fig. 2, the pipe 18 may be prolongeddownwardly into the holder, and thus will be sealed by the water in thelatter.

The mechanism for imparting a blow to each rod 9 consecutively, one rodreceiving its blow at each descent of a gasometer-bell, is constructedand arrangedin the following manner: A rotary shaft 25 is supported inbearings 26 and carries at a suitable point in its length a drum 34,having cord 37 with weight 35. The carbid-holders C, as indicated atFig. 5, are advantageously disposed in a row in proximity to the saidshaft 25. Each rod 9 is provided with a cam-surface 36 at the topadapted to be struck by an arm or wiper 33, keyed to the shaft 25, whenthe latter is released and allowed to turn under the pull of the weight35. One striker-arm 33 is provided above each rod 9, and thecam-surfaces are of such a nature that the strikerarm after havingdelivered the blow slides past the cam 36 as the rod 9 descends farenough. The wiper or striker arms 33 are radially disposed around theshaft 25 at equal angles one from the other, so that when thestriker-arm of the first holder has delivered its blow that of the neXtholder will have i will be clearly seen at Fig. 5.

Each water-tank contains just sufarise in the event of thepawl-and-ratchet mechanism breaking down and the shaft 25 come around inposition to deliver its blow the next time the shaft is released-z'. e.,the nexttime the bell descends. The intermittent partial rot-ation ofthe shaft 25 is effected and controlled by means of the ratchet-wheel27, fast on the said shaft, and a balance-like ratchet or pawl device2S, pivoted at 30 and having an upwardly-movable tail 29, extending intothe path of movement of a trip-lug 31, suitably mounted on thegasometer-bell of the gas-holder and adapted to trip the pawl andrelease the shaft for a moment when the bell has just reached its lowestposition or immediately before the lowest point has been attained, Fig.3. The tail 29 is hinged to the pawl 2S and normally held in theposition shown at Fig. 3 by means of a spring 29, as Thus when the bellrises after a carbid-tin has been punctured the trip-lug 3l will pushthe tail 29 up f and slide past it.

This invention is not confined to the particular mechanism for releasingthe shaft for 3 a moment, as any suitable known means may be employed.

In order to prevent accidents which might being thus permitted to make acomplete rev- `olution and discharge all the receptacles or `holderssimultaneously, each rod 9 is provided with a protecting-cap which wardsoff the striker-arm and prevents the operation of the rod 9 until thesaid protecting-cap has been tilted out of the way by the descent of thebell. Referring to Fig. 5, a shaft or spindle 41 is mounted parallel tothe shaft 25 and in proximity thereto, the said shaft having mountedthereon a crown-wheel 42, the pins of which correspond in number to thenumber of carbid-holders. This shaft further carries a disk 46, havingrecesses in its periphery, into which the rounded head 45, Fig. 4, of apivoted -lever is spring-pressed for the purpose of determining theproper position of the shaft after each partial movement of the same. Afinger 47 on the bell acts on one of the pins of the crown-wheel 42 ateach descent of the bell and turns the shaft a part of a revolution.This nger yields downwardly as the bell rises, being normally returnedto the horizontal position by means of a spring 47', which holds itagainst a suitable stop. A series of arms or wipers 43 is arranged onthe shaft 41 in a similar manner to the striker-arms 33 of the shaft 25.The tails 40 of pivoted levers 44 extend into the path of movement ofeach arm 43 and are actuated by the said arms to tip back theprotecting-cap 38, so that it can fall down onto the cover and leave thecamsurface of the rod 9 free to be operated by its striker-arm. Thelevers 44 are pivoted at 44 to the top of the carbid-holders and arebent around at the top to form a protectingcap 38, overreaching the camat the top of rod 9. These levers stand loosely, as shown at of gas.

Figs. 2 and 3, normally, and when the corresponding arm 43 of theshaft41 moves it comes up under the lug 40 and knocks the lever over into theposition shown at the lefthand side ofhvFig. 1, leaving the top of therod 9 free. Thus each time the bell descends the finger 47 of the samewill operate the shaft 4:1 to tilt down a protecting-cap immediatelybefore the trip 31 releases the shaft 25. Thus it will be seen `that ifthe pawl mechanism of the shaft 25 were to get deranged the shaft couldonly turn far enough to allow the next striker-arm to strike and remainon the protecting-cap of the next holder, without, however, throwing thesame into operation.

The device operates in the following manner: The carbid-holders havingbeen charged each with a case of carbid and again closed, the firstholder may be operated by hand. In that the pawl 28 is raised by handand liberates the puncturing mechanism and the water-feed. As the gas isdeveloped the bell rises, and when the gas is consumed it graduallysinks again. When the bell has nearly attained its lowest point, thestop or lug 47 turns the shaft 41 by means of its contact with thecrown-wheel 42 and throws over the protecting-cap 38 of the secondcarbidl holder. The moment afterward the lug 31 reaches the pawl-tail29, tripping the pawl and releasing the shaft 25, which will now turn athird of a revolution and operate the puncturing device of the secondholder, when it will again be arrestedby the pawl 28, which has in themeantime been released from the lug 3l. The gas is now generated in thesecond holder, and the bell again rises, the lug 31 pushing up the tail29 of the pawl 28 on its upward passage and the nose of the lug 47yielding as it passes the crown-wheel. Then the arm 33 strikes thecam-surface 36 of the rod 9, the lever 22 is depressed at one end, andthe opposite end of the samethrows over the weighted-lever system 23 24,thus opening the water communication 18 to the carbidholder, while theconnecting-rod 52 closes the petcock 53. When all the carbid of theholder has been exhausted, the back-pressure valve 56 prevents the gasfrom flowing back through the pipe 55 and -out at the watertank orpetcock. The holder 1 may then be recharged, so that it will be readyfor action the next time its arm 33 comes around. After the holder hasbeen recharged the cocks and the protecting-caps should be reset.

In case any of the water-cocks leading to the carbid-holders should leaksomewhat it is advisable to provide means for allowing any Water whichmight enter the carbid-holders to pass off at the bottom. This iseffected by means of a drip-cock 53, having'plug-lever 54, which isconnected to a lever 5l of the cock -19 by means of a connecting-rod 52,so that when the water-feed cock is opened the petcock 53 will be closedto prevent the escape The gas generated in the holder passes off throughthe cover along a pipe 55, having a check-valve 56, to the gas-holder,which it enters above the water-level. In order to be able to feed thegas to the points of consumption in as dry a state as possible,

the water underneath the bell is provided I with a layer of oil 57thereabove, thus preventing the contact of the gas with the surface ofthe water.

Although I have described in detail one form of the apparatus, I Wish itto be understood that many of the details of construction could bevaried in many ways without departing from the spirit of the invention.Thus, for instance, the pawl device for controlling the movement of theshaft 25 might be of any other suitable construction, the shaft25 mightbe actuated by means of a torsional spring instead of the weight, andmany other constructive alterations might be made.

I claim as my inventionl. In a gas-generator, the combination, with agas-holder having a movable part, of a closed receptacle adjacent toandindependent from said gas-holder and adapted to contain water; aconduit between said gas-holder and receptacle; a case, containing thegasprod ucing agent, within the receptacle; means for forming an openingin the case; a conduit for supplying the receptacle with water; a valvein said conduit; anddevices controlled by the movable part of thegas-holder for operating the means for forming an opening in the caseand for opening the valve in said water-supply conduit.

2. In a gas generator, the combination, with a gas-holder having amovable part, of a closed receptacle independently mounted adjacent tosaid holder; a conduit between the gas-holder and receptacle; means forsupplying said receptacle with water; a case for containing the gas-producing agent and mounted within the receptacle; a tool forpuncturing said case; and a device controlled by the movable part of thegas-holder for operating said tool; and means controlled by the tool forturning on the water-supply to the receptacle.

3. In an acetylene-gas generator, the combination, with a gas-holder andits bell, of a closed receptacle; a case containing carbid locatedwithin the receptacle; means controlled by the bell for puncturing saidcase; and means also controlled by the bell as it descends forsupplying'said receptacle with water.

el. In an acetylenegas generator, the combination, with the bell of agas-holder, of a closed receptacle; a case containing carbid locatedwithin the receptacle; a water-tank in communication with saidreceptacle; a valve in the conduit between said tank and receptacle;means controlled by the bell for actuating said valve; a tool forpunching said carbid-case and means controlled by the bell for actuatingsaid tool.

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5. In a gas-generator, the combination ,with a gas-holder, of a seriesof closed receptacles; cases containing the gas-producing agent andlocated within the receptacles; means for forming openings in saidcases; and mechanism for successively actuating said means.

6. In an acetylene-gas generator, the combination, with the bell of agas-holder, of a closed receptacle located adjacent to and independentof the gas-holder; a carbid-case within the receptacle; a tool workingthrough a Wall of the receptacle and serving to perforate thecarbid-case; and means for actuating said tool.

7. In a gas-generator, the combination,with a gas-holder, of a closedreceptacle; a case containing the gas-producing agent and located insaid receptacle; a punch for forming an opening in said case; a movableshaft; and means carried by said shaft for actuating the punch.

8. In a gas-generator, the combination, with a receptacle, of a casecontaining the gas-producing agent, said case being located in saidreceptacle; a punch operating through a wall of the receptacle andserving to perforate the case; a shaft carrying a device for actuatingthe punch; a gas-holder; and a conduit for conveying the gas generatedin the receptacle to said gas-holder.

9. In a gas-generator, the combination,with a receptacle, of a casecontaining the gas-producing agent, said case being located in thereceptacle; a punch for perforating the case; a shaft carrying a Wiperand normally locked against rotation; means for locking said shaft; agas-holder having a bell; a device carried by said bell and adapted tooperate the shaftlocking means to release the shaft; and meansl foractuating said shaft when released.

IO. The combination, with areceptacle, of a case containing a gasproducing agent; a

punch; a protector for preventing the punch from being operated exceptat the proper time; means for actuating the protector; and means foractuating the punch.

l1. The combination, With a receptacle, of a case containing a gasproducing agent; a punch; means for actuating said punch; aprotecting-cap for the punch; and means for withdrawing said cap priorto the operation of the punch.

l2. The combination, with a receptacle, ofa case containing a gasproducing agent; a punch; a swinging protector; means for Withdrawingsaid protector; and means for actuating the punch.

13. The combination, with a receptacle, of a case containing agas-producing agent; a tool working through a Wall of the receptacle andadapted to perforate said case; means for actuatin g said tool; and amovable protector for preventing the operation of said tool except atthe proper time.

14. The combination,with a receptacle, car ryinga punchof a case; meansfor normally elevating said case above the punch; and means for forcingsaid case upon the punch.

l5. The combination, with a receptacle, of a punch located therein; acase containing a gas# producing agent and located Within thereceptacle; a spring normally holding said case out of contact with thepunch; and means for forcing the case upon the punch.

16. The combination, with areceptacle, of a punch in the bottom thereof;a case containing a gas-producing agent; a spring for normally elevatingthe case out of contact with the punch; and means for forcing said caseupon the punch.

17. The combination, with areceptacle, of a punch in the bottom thereof;a case containing carbid; means for forcing said case against the punch;and means for introducing Water into the receptacle.

18. The combination, with a receptacle, of a stationary punch locatedtherein; a case containing a gas-producing agent; a movable punchworking through a wall of the receptacle; means for forcing the caseagainst the stationary punch; and means for actuating the movable punch.

19. The combination, with a receptacle, of a case containing agas-producing agent; a device for perforating said case; a Water-supplypipe; means for controlling the supply of Water to said receptacle; anda device actuated by the receptacle-perforating device for operatingsaid means for controlling the supply of Water.

20. The combination, with a gas-holder, of a receptacle independent ofsaid holder; a conduit connecting said holder and receptacle; a casecontaining a gas-producing agent; means for simultaneously perforatingsaid case at different points; and means for supplying water to thereceptacle at the time the case is perforated.

2l. The combination, withagas-holder, of a closed receptacle; a conduitbetween the receptacle and gas-holder; a case containing carbid andlocated in said receptacle; a stationary punch within the receptacle; areciprocating punch working through a wall of the receptacle; and meansfor introducing water to the receptacle.

22. The combination, with a gas-holder, of a receptacle; a casecontaining carbid and located in said receptacle; means for perforatingsaid case; means for introducing water into the receptacle; a valve inthe Water-supply means and controlled by the means for perforating thecase; and a conduit for conveying the generated gas to the gas-holder.

23. The combinatiomwith a gas-holder, of a receptacle; a conduit betweensaid gas-holder and receptacle; a case containing carbid located in thereceptacle; means for supplying Water to the receptacle; means forperforating the receptacle; and means forturning on the Watersimultaneously with the perforating operation.

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24. The combination, withaclosed receptacle, of a case containingcarbidlocated therein; a punch working through one end of the receptacle;means for actuating said punch;

y in the water-supply pipe controlled by the punch.

26. The combination, with a receptacle, of a carbid-case containedtherein; a punch for perforating said case; a pivoted lever actuated bythe punch; a water-supply pipe communicating with the receptacle; avalve in said pipe and actuated by the pivoted lever; and a weightedlever carried by the valve,

27. The combination, with the bellof a gasholder, of a receptaclecommunicating with said holder; a case containing a charge of carbid,the gas from which will till the gas-holder a punch for perforating thecarbid case r means for actuating the punch; Va water-supply conduitleading to the receptacle; and means carried by the bell for controllingthe movement of the punch-actuating means.

28. The combination, with a gas-holder, of a series of receptacles incommunication therewith; a series of punches; mechanism for actuatingsaid punches; a carbid-case in each receptacle; and means controlled bythe bell of the gas-holder for setting in operation a punch forperforating a carbid-case in one of the receptacles communicating withsaid gasholder.

29. The combination', with a series of punches, of a shaft havingaseries of wipers differently disposed thereon; a gasholdercommunicating with each respective receptacle; a series of receptacles;and a series of carbid-cases contained in the receptacles and adapted tobe successively perforated by the punches.

'30. The combination, with a rotary shaft carrying a wiper, of meansnormally tending to rotate said shaft; a stop for restraining themovement of the shaft; means for withdrawing the stop; a punch actuatedby the wiper; and a receptacle containing a case adapted to beperforated' by the punch.

3l. The combination, with a rotary shaft carrying a wiper, of means thetendency of which is normally to rotate said shaft; a ratchet carried bythe shaft; a pawl engaging the ratchet; means for releasing the pawl; apunch actuated by the wiper when the shaft is released; and a receptaclecontaining a case adapted to be perforated by the punch.

32. The combination, with a rotary shaft carrying a Wiper, of a drumsecured to said shaft; a rope, carrying a weight, coiled on the drum; aratchet secured to the shaft; a pawl in engagement with said ratchet;means for :releasing said pawl; a punch operated by the Wiper; a springfor returning said punch to its normal position; a receptacle through awall of which the punch operates; and a case containing a gas-producingagent located in the receptacle.

33. The combination, with a punch, of

' means for actuatingsaid punch; a hinged protector normally locatedover the punch; and a shaft carrying a wiper for withdrawing saidprotector.

34. In an acetylene-gas generator, the combination, with the bell of agas-holder, of a gas-tight receptacle; a tank to supply the same withWater; a sealed carbid-containing case within said receptacle; meanswithin the receptacle and outside the gas-holder for puncturing the casewhen the latter is to be developed; and means released by the fall ofthe bell for operating the puncturing device of the receptacle and forestablishing communication between the said water-tank and thereceptacle as the bell sinks below a certain level.

v 35. In an acetylene-gas generator, the combination, with a gas-holder,of a series of receptacles each containing a case of carbid; and meansin connection with each receptacle and controlled by the bell of thegasholder forconsecutively punching the carbidcase therein and feedingwater to said receptacles.

36. In an acetylene-gas generator, the combination, with a gas-holderand bell, of a series of separate carbid-receptacles to containhermetically-sealed carbid-cases; means for puncturing the carbid-cases;a separate water-tank for each receptacle to contain the proper quantityof water to develop the carbid therein; and means actuated by each fallof the bell of the gas-holder below a certain -point to puncture thecarbid-case in and supply water to the next consecutivecarbid-receptacle.

37. In an acetylene-gas generator, the combination, with a gas-holderand bell, of separate receptacles adapted to contain sufficienthermetically-sealed carbid to fill the bell with gas when the carbid isdeveloped; a removable bottom plate for each of said receptacles havinga punch; a spring adapted normally to hold a carbid-case above thepunch; a movable punch; a stuffing-box to guide the same through thecover of the receptacle; a iiange supported on the movable punch abovethe carbid-case; -means for supplying water to each receptacle; andmeans operated at each fall of the bell below a certain leveland servingto actuate the movable punch and to turn on the Water-supply to saidreceptacle.

38. In an acetylene-gas generator, the combination, with a gas-holderand bell, of a row of complete carbid-receptacles mounted in proximitythereto; a rotary shaft mounted along the row of receptacles; apuncturing device for each receptacle; a series of strikerarms radiallyequidistant Vfrom each other on IOO IIO

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ille shaft; means Jfor rotating `said shaft a part of a turn at eachdescent of the bell and thereby imparting a blow to the next consecutivepuncturing` device; means for snpplying water to the receptacles; andmeans operating in connection with the puncturing devices for openingthe water-supply to said carbid-receptacles.

39. The combination,with a gas-holder and bell, of a series of separatecarbid-receptacles; sealed carbid-cases therein; means actuated by thebell for pnncturing said cases in each receptacle consecutively;protectingcaps to cover the puncturing device;` and means forconsecutively withdrawing said caps before the punctu ring mechanism isoperated.

40. In an acetylene-gas generator, the coinbination, with a gasLholderand bell, of a series of carbid-receptacles having sealed carbid-cases 5a puncturng device for each receptacle; a separate .water-tank for eachreceptacle; means for consecutively operating each receptacle at eachfall ofthe bell beyond a certain point; a petcock at the bottom of eachreceptacle; and means controlled by the puncturing device for closingsaid petcock as soon as the puncturing device is operated.A

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of twowitnesses.

GEORGE GREGORY SMITH.

Witnesses:

A. DE HARE, THOMAS W. J AMES.

